Adam May leaving WJZ for Al Jazeera America

From the archives: Adam May

LLOYD FOX / Baltimore Sun

FROM THE ARCHIVES: BALTIMORE,MD--SEPTEMBER 6, 2005--Adam May a news reporter for WJZ 13 , sits on one of the hundreds of beds that have been set up at the Du Burns arena for hurricane Katrina victims, while he waits to do his report on the story. Digital IMage # 0085.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: BALTIMORE,MD--SEPTEMBER 6, 2005--Adam May a news reporter for WJZ 13 , sits on one of the hundreds of beds that have been set up at the Du Burns arena for hurricane Katrina victims, while he waits to do his report on the story. Digital IMage # 0085. (LLOYD FOX / Baltimore Sun)

"It was a tough decision, especially saying goodbye to our viewers who have been so loyal over the last few years," May said in a telephone interview Monday. "I now consider many of them friends, and I hope when they still see me walking around Baltimore, they'll come up and say hi."

May, who is originally from Minnesota, said, "One of the most exciting things about this opportunity is that my family gets to stay in Baltimore."

As a national correspondent, May will work out of Al Jazeera's Washington bureau.

"We have fallen in love with this city," May added. "Ten years ago, I would have never thought I'd come to love Baltimore as much as I do."

May said Al Jazeera's documentary, "Baltimore: Anatomy of an American City," which aired in August, was one of the factors that influenced him in joining the news operation. He was impressed with the quality of the documentary. (You can find links to my review of the documentary and my analysis as to why Al Jazeera should be accessible to American viewers along the left-hand side of this post.)

May, who has been anchoring weekends for seven years, is one of the most popular and respected reporter-anchors in Baltimore. I can think of few Baltimore TV journalists who have connected as he has with viewers in his 10 years at the station.

Al Jazeera is lucky to get him.

Before coming to WJZ in 2003, May worked at WHAS-TV in Louisville, Ky., and WAAY-TV in Huntsville, Ala. He started in broadcasting at WBJR in Duluth, Minn.

The 37-year-old journalist is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where he majored in communications.

Al Jazeera America recently announced the signing of CNN's Ali Velshi; expect a wave of announcements in coming weeks from the Qatar-based news operation.

Linh Bui will replace May as reporter-anchor starting in July. A Maryland native and graduate of College Park, she is now working at WZVN in Ft. Meyers, Fla.

Tonight’s episode is the infamous “Women Tell All” reunion, where 17 contestants from this season return to discuss the events to date. Basically, the women argue with one another while Chris Harrison mediates.